Spring Black Bear, to scout or not to scout?

[Harvest the Land]

One thing to consider is the bugs are absolutely brutal by the end of May and they're even worse beginning of June. I really try hard mid-May just before the bugs come out in full force. Look for overturned logs and overturned smaller boulders - they look hard for critters under those things when they just start roaming around before there's much green up. April is better for fishing or scouting and dealing with trail cams

[caddisguy]

Walkswithdeer is a born and bred hunter. I wouldn’t question that. From what I’ve read bears aren’t very tasty until after they get rid of their winter butt plug. So I would wait till the last week of April to really start looking at filling the freezer. I’m still new to bear hunting but that’s my opinion. Scout earlier if you’d like but chances of sightings are slim unless your in region 2.

I've taken bears in Region 2 first week or April. No issues with taste. But a lot of Region 2 bears are up before the season opens in many cases, weather dependent.

I've only ever had one nasty tasting bear and that was back in 2017. I shot it on mothers day. Second I walked up to the bear... I thought what the heck? I'm like 100-200km inland how does this thing smell like seaweed?

Anyway, the bear didn't taste like seaweed (that might have been better?) It tasted like "what a wet dog smells like" if you can imagine that. Really gross. I choked it down, but I was really turned off bear until I was well into the next one, which was a small/young boar shot first week of May.

Last year I think it was sometime in the first 10 days of April we took down an older bear that I thought was going to be absolutely nasty, but turned out to be delicious.

[GEF]

I like late May and go high up to the snow line .Big boars and they are staring to rut.Glassing and spotting scope time required

[MDR]

Mid to late May up here. Never shot one earlier than May 8th. I really enjoy making my own bear ham....seriously, give it a try sometime!

[murph83]

I have had good luck going out for bear in mid to late May.

[weatherby_man]

Hey Ron, great pics, what is the open sight rifle in the last pic?

[BeerMan]

Looks like a Savage Model99.

[Ron.C]

Hey Ron, great pics, what is the open sight rifle in the last pic?

My grandpa's .303 Savage.

[weatherby_man]

My grandpa's .303 Savage.

Nice! It looks like a real beauty!

[Pauly]

Has anyone ever sent in their bear tung to be tested by moe for trichinosis ? I’ve never bothered but am curious as to the process... how long for results and do you have to drop it off at a specific place.